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Bernard Edwards - The Bassist for Chic

#42
Not to hi-jack, but its nice to see Carmine Rojas name mentioned. I always forget to through his name out there when we are talking about groovers who play with a pick.
 
#44
markjazzbassist said:
who did carmine play with?
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Bowie, Rod Stewart and a bunch of others. Carmine is one of those journeyman bassist that have toured and recorded with a lot of people. Theres a reason these guys work.
 
#46
I have always loved his bass lines, but strangely never sat down to play them myself. Until last week, when we decided to put "We are family" on the set list. Now Bernie's lines are stuck in my mind and I will move on to other songs that he played. Let the groove begin.
 
#50
Sounbwoy said:
Where did I read that he played Sadowskys almost all the time after a while?:hmm:
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The inlay on the last studio-record from Chic (Chicism), released in 1991, says so...
Now if only I could really play the intro to "Everybody dance". I'm trying it for years, but I simply don't get it. I'm accusing Edwards of using his thumb instead of just his index and middle finger.

Dirk
 
#51
FiedelP said:
The inlay on the last studio-record from Chic (Chicism), released in 1991, says so...
Now if only I could really play the intro to "Everybody dance". I'm trying it for years, but I simply don't get it. I'm accusing Edwards of using his thumb instead of just his index and middle finger.

Dirk
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He used a pick on that song.
 
#52
^Not true, he held his index finger and thumb together simulating using a pick but never actually had one. I observed this technique when I saw them live, I believe he used the side of his fingernail sort of like the way Jeff Beck does.
 
#53
Lo end PUNCH said:
^Not true, he held his index finger and thumb together simulating using a pick but never actually had one. I observed this technique when I saw them live, I believe he used the side of his fingernail sort of like the way Jeff Beck does.
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Nile Rogers once said that he used a pick during the recording, because it recorded cleaner. I'll see if I can find the quote.
 
#57
The Mock Turtle Regulator said:
Jerry Barnes. Omar Hakim on drums.

http://www.disco-disco.com/tributes/chic.html

http://www.chictribute.com/
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Thanks for the link - I have been a great fan of Chic since I was a teenager. I am lucky enough to run and play in a band in the UK that specializes in 70's/80's music, and have doned the wigs and done the whole disco tribute thang. We play lots of Chic, Sister Sledge, Earth Wind and Fire etc and it is a great pleasure playing all those superb bass lines.

Disco was cool, then very uncool and now just kitch. Can't knock the music though, all played by great musicians and we would not have had all the dance music of the 90's and 00's without it. Listen to Duran, Jamiraqui etc and all the bass lines are ripped of all the disco music.
 
#58
The Mock Turtle Regulator said:
the one I'm listening to at the moment is Sister Sledge's "thinking of you". I'm trying to learn the guitar part too. great song, great instrumentation.
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"Thinking of You" was a fantastic song (you gotta love the nice little progression at the turnaround) and Bernard was no joke -- I think "Good Times" may be the one of the most famous bass lines ever played recorded.

Regarding the "Four Horsemen", I gotta put in a plug for Mark Adams from Slave -- he laid down some of the funkiest lines I've EVER heard. (Check out "Snapshot" and "Weak in the Knees")
 
#59
Thanx for the replies regarding Edward's unusual technique when playing "Everybody Dance".
The link above just fits well: Although Chic is shown playing Dance Dance Dance, it's clear to see that Edwards is using a very unusual right-hand technique. Under the video-section there is also a short passage from "Everybody Dance" where he is quickly changing from classical two-finger technique to his thumb-technique.
http://www.chictribute.com/index2.html

Dirk
 

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